Case Studies

Accelerated Phase 2 ESA Program

Objective
The client engaged Vertex to execute environmental site assessments in the Weyburn Area under the ASCP program. Vertex’s client was looking to maximize the amount of Indigenous Credit Pool funds generated from the work.

Biophysical Impact & Wetland Assessment Reports

Objective
Retained by the client to complete a Biophysical Impact Assessment Report (BIA) for submission to the municipality as well as the completion of a Wetland Assessment and Impact Report (WAIR) for submission to Alberta Environment and Parks. The client is submitting a development permit for approximately 68 acres of land in a large western Canadian urban centre that will include residential (R-G, M-1, M-2), mixed-use (MU-1), and commercial (C-C1) areas.

Commercial Development – Site Assessment and Remediation Project

Objective
Client was seeking reclamation certificates (four in total given the complexity of the site) on a former gravel quarry for a future residential neighborhood in large western Canadian urban centre.

Directive 88 ARO and Liability Review: Asset Purchase

Objective
A financing body sought input on the ARO value of a potential property acquisition.

Geohazard Slope Stability Assessment

Objective
The City of Moose Jaw engaged Vertex to perform slope stability analysis along the banks of the Moose Jaw River and perform a risk assessment and identify high-risk zones.

Geothermal Power Generation

Objective
Vertex’s confidential client is in the planning and scoping stage of a deep-well geothermal project. This project would see water (under pressure) more than 180 deg. C (300 deg. F) brought to surface for use in a steam turbine power generator. The thermal expansion effects on the casing, surface casing, cementing, and wellhead are significant and require specialized software and knowledge to properly design

Horizontal Drilling (HDD) & Aquatic Response Support (Fraser River)

Objective
Vertex was engaged by a client to provide Aquatic Cleanup services in support of executing a Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) under the Fraser River in Burnaby. This service was required under the Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) for the TransMountain Expansion Project.

Indigenous Environmental Monitor (IEM) Training

Objective
The client requested two environmental monitoring teams comprised of Senior and Indigenous Monitors to oversee construction & drilling programs during the winter of 20/21.

Integrated Land and Environmental Services – Pipeline Integrity Program

Objective
Vertex’s client engaged Vertex to provide engage with landowners and regulators to gain access to their pipeline right of way to execute an annual integrity dig program. The majority of the proposed integrity digs were located in densely populated areas or natural areas with nearby sensitive receptors.

Integrated Linear Project Execution (Land, Consultation, Environment)

Objective
Vertex was engaged by a midstream company to complete the following scope of work on a 50km Midstream Pipeline & Sour Gas Plant: Acquire all surface land approvals (Crown and Freehold), complete all required stakeholder consultation required for project & post-construction land owner signoff’s, Acquire all environmental approvals (EPEA, Water Act, Public Lands Act) for pipeline and proposed sour gas plant, Complete Environmental inspection during project construction including, General environmental inspection services, Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) environmental monitoring, & Monitoring of ongoing reclamation activities

Land Redevelopment – Excess Soil Management

Objective
Vertex has been engaged by multiple contractors and land developers for support in navigating the Excess Soil Regulations which have come into effect in Ontario. The new regulation requires additional soil characterization prior to construction followed by a specific plan to transport soil from the site to another location regardless of impacts.

Land Redevelopment – Risk Management and Remediation Program

Objective
Vertex was engaged by a Land Developer to review Environmental Concerns associated with a 500+ acre package of land in Calgary prior to development. Work was completed under the direction of Indigenous Services Canada.

Overlays and Upgrade Facilitation

Objective
Major carrier clients engage Vertex for their ongoing upgrades, expansions and equipment swaps on urban rooftops. Engaging Landlords with thoroughly organized proposals gets all parties off on the right foot and expedites successful outcomes.

Phase I and II ESA Commercial Development Program

Objective
Vertex was retained to complete a comprehensive Phase I and II ESA program on a former industrial property to be developed into a residential neighborhood. The property was 160 ac and contained multiple development areas intermingled with agricultural land use adjacent to a Central Alberta municipality.

Pipeline Integrity: System-Wide Geohazards Risk Assessment

Objective
An Integrity Management Program (IMP) related bulletin was issued by Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) in 2019 to mandate the management of slope instability through IMPs. The objective of the project was to develop and enhance the client’s Geohazards IMP using a phased approach to be compliant with AER’s bulletin. A system-wide GIS-based assessment was carried out to identify potentially high-risk assets based on landslide susceptibility, age of the pipeline, and substance carried.

Reclamation Certification Using Disturbance Recovery Models and Remote Sensing

Objective
Providing practical and economical solutions is one of Vertex’s commitments to our clients. Conventional reclamation assessment of oil sand exploration well/corehole programs requires field assessments of all associated well sites and access roads. These field assessments have a high cost and environmental impact and are often highly subjective. Vertex’s Research and Development, Operations and Remote Sensing teams worked collaboratively to develop a remote sensing approach combined with disturbance recovery models to overcome these limitations. The approach utilizes remote sensing data and ecological resiliency factors to rank the well sites and access roads, and only sites with reduced recovery/resiliency are field assessed. Between 2021 and 2022, Vertex used this approach for Imperial Oil and received a reclamation certificate for a 29-site oil sands exploration program.

Reclamation of Exploration Wells

Objective
An oil and gas producer with operations in the oil sands region requested closure on over 400 oil sands exploration wells. Vertex and its Indigenous partner Acden were retained to assist in the management of the reclamation and assessment program. Vertex's role was to manage and execute all assessment and reclamation work in order to obtain regulatory closure on the sites.

Regulatory Amendment Oil Sands Mine

Objective
The client was seeking regulatory approval for an increase in project development area to allow future placement of overburden, reclamation material stockpiles, and associated facilities outside the currently approved operating area at a large oil sands mine in northern Alberta.

Regulatory Renewal for Peat Horticultural Development

Objective
After failed attempts, the client was seeking support to obtain project renewals for operations that were still in operations.

Rural Internet Service Providers

Objective
Tasked with turnkey Real Estate Acquisition, Municipal Affairs, and Regulatory clearances for ISP’s in rural Canada, Vertex saw a massive spike in e-commerce, work-from-home trends, and content streaming demand pushing internet service providers further into rural and remote areas.

Solar Power Renewables Project

Objective
The client was seeking regulatory approval for a new solar power renewables project located in southern Alberta.

Surface Decommissioning Project

Objective
The client was seeking a service provider to remove equipment and properly abandon pipelines on suspended well sites on Siksika lands in advance of site remediation and reclamation activities.

Sustainable Peat Harvest Operation

Objective
Vertex was retained by a client to provide regulatory application guidance to support the harvesting of peat moss located in Northern Alberta.

Transaction Due Diligence for Commercial Development Company

Objective
Decade long support for western Canadian commercial development company in their due diligence and acquisition of multiple commercial properties.

Virtual Land Department Outsourcing

Objective
An Energy & Production (E&P) client is a non-op working interest partner in a large property in NE BC. The client, being a foreign entity, was looking for a company in Calgary to house its, files, manage its day-to-day land obligations and provide a Calgary address for correspondence with industry

Water Management During Construction

Objective
Vertex was retained by an earthworks and construction client to supervise the pump off of and monitoring of surface water during the construction of a recreation facility in a western Canadian urban centre.

Well360 Program at Rainbow Lake

Objective
A junior oil and gas producer – with limited staff - engaged Vertex to execute their Drilling Program in 2021. Their productive area was very remote and challenging from an execution perspective due to limited local resources. The client was required to complete their drilling, completion, and tie-in activities on an extremely tight schedule, including all sourcing of equipment, services and obtaining regulatory approvals.

Wildlife Management for Mine Expansion

Objective
The client required wildlife management services for the development of a large green field land base for an Energy mine expansion.

Wind Farm Biophysical Surveys

Objective
The client purchased a proposed wind farm development. They were seeking regulatory advice on the data that had been collected to date and what surveys Vertex recommend to be completed. The client was looking to avoid regulatory delays that they have seen on current wind farms that they were constructing. Vertex incorporated options to address concerns that they had.